Rudd thanks supporters

He later told reporters in Brisbane that he did not challenge Ms Gillard yesterday because he did not have the numbers to win.

"I gathered my key friends and ministerial colleagues together in my office yesterday afternoon after Simon Crean's statement and I asked for their views," he said.

"I asked Chris Bowen for his views. I asked Anthony Albanese for his views. I asked Joel Fitzgibbon for his view, Richard Marles, Alan Griffin, as well as Kim Carr.

"And the truth is this, I asked them, what are the prospects for us obtaining a significant majority? Their collective response was zero.

"I asked them what are the prospects of us obtaining a majority, to which their response was zero.

"I then asked them under these circumstances... what should I do? Each of them said to me, 'Kevin, I believe you should not run because it would divide the party'."

Mr Rudd paid tribute to his backers who have fallen on their swords, including Joel Fitzgibbon, Richard Marles, Ed Husic and Janelle Saffin.

Spill fiasco: The casualties so far

Simon CreanElder statesman who sparked the spill. Sacked for disloyalty before Question Time on Thursday.

Chris BowenEx-immigration minister, resigned all portfolios at an emotional press conference the day after the spill.

Martin FergusonFormer ACTU boss, resigned as resources, energy and tourism minister to go to the backbench.

Joel FitzgibbonChief whip who set the hounds running on Wednesday, says he will keep quiet for the foreseeable future.

Kim CarrMinister for human services and previously demoted Rudd backer, he has quit the ministry.

Richard MarlesForced to resign parliamentary secretary role after coming out strongly for Rudd on Thursday.

Ed HusicWestern Sydney MP who quit as whip after expressing no confidence in Gillard.

Janelle SaffinLong-time Rudd backer who resigned as whip after the challenge collapsed.

He singled out Mr Bowen for praise.

"I see in him a future prime minister of Australia, he is a very good man, he has a good heart and a very strong mind and is a man of integrity," Mr Rudd said.

"His service in a number of portfolios, including the really hard ones, shows that this bloke has a future."

Mr Rudd, who repeated his intention to stand at the next election in his seat of Griffith, said it was now time to "put a line under it" when it comes to the Labor leadership.

'Courageous'

Mr Ferguson delivered a stinging assessment of some of the Government's policies, saying he considered resigning when the mining tax was changed after he promised the companies it would not be.

He said he would stand at the September 14 election and give the Government his absolute support from the backbench.

The former head of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU) urged the party to reclaim the legacy of the Hawke and Keating governments.

"Reclaim the legacy of Hawke and Keating of being a reforming government and a government that governs for all Australians," he said.

"A modern Labor Party should appeal to all Australians. The way forward for Labor is to send a very strong message that that's what we're all about.

"When you look at the way we handled the global financial crisis, Australians didn't appreciate that there was a worldwide recession. Things were going well, then we got ourselves derailed from the mining tax dispute."

He also praised Mr Crean for his "courageous" move to trigger yesterday's leadership spill.